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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Presenting Ronda Rice Carman: Author, Blogger, and Entrepreneur

Many of you have watched the trajectory of our friend Ronda Rice Carman's fascinating career. Join me on this adventure along with Ronda and hear how her life has unfolded in the most magical way.

Ronda, You have
been on a whirlwind the past few years. There have been so many changes and new
ventures, both personally and professionally. Would you tell our readers about
your very interesting background, blog, the places you have lived and what is
new in your life?

I was
born and raised in Houston,
Texas. Prior to
moving to Scotland in
2005, I lived in Pittsburgh
for five years. Yes, it’s been a whirlwind tour over the past 8 years and very
exaggerated the past year or so. It’s hard to believe that it’s been seven years
since penning my first blog post. In all honestly, I could never have
envisioned the path that my life would take as I typed that first post in
January 2007. It seems at every turn, there is another door that opens
with opportunity behind it.

This past year was professionally
exciting and personally demanding. Commuting from Scotland to the States for my
book tour, combined with my consulting practice and starting a new
business has played a nontrivial role in whirl-winded schedule.

As many now know, I have entered a
new chapter in my personal life…I’m divorced, I moved back to Texas and I started Ronda Carman Fine
Fabrics with my new love and business partner, Matt Whitaker. As this new
chapter unfolds, I am both excited and inspired.

A new Luxe Line of Lambswool and Cashmere Scottish Throws

What was your vision when you
started your widely acclaimed blog, All the Best?

I wish I could say that I had a vision. What I had
was a vague notion of what I wanted and strong desire to succeed. I began my
blog (on a whim) in 2007 while working in corporate fundraising for theRoyal Scottish National Orchestra. After discovering the blogsPeak
of Chic, Style Court
and Absolutely Beautiful Things, I decided, on impulse, that I wanted a
blog too. All the Best, (named after the January issue of Town & Country sitting on my desk) was little more than an anthology of
my thoughts on champagne, wine, dog beds and candles, among other design and
luxury topics. My thought was, ‘I’ll just blog about whatever I deem to be the
best that day.’ The blog became my connection to like-minded individuals and a
way of adjusting to my new life in Scotland.

After 6 months I lost focus and became disenchanted with
my new ‘hobby’. But after ashout outfromDomino
Magazine, my readership skyrocketed from a couple of views each day
to more than 2,000 visitors. I emailed Rita
Konig to thank her for the mention and she agreed to an interview on
All the Best. I was so excited by the idea of ‘interviewing’ designers
and tastemakers. Before long I was profiling people that I had admired for
years, such as Ivanka TrumpandTory Burch. I had that aha moment…I found
my niche and that is when All the Best really began.

When I decided to resign my real job and blog fulltime, my
ex-husband thought I had lost my mind. I remember saying to him, ‘If you do
what you love, the money will follow.’ I’m so glad I followed both my heart and
head as opportunities are abound.

Ronda, when I received your recent book, Designers at Home, Personal Reflections on Stylish Living, it was like a jewel box of a book. Page after page of the best of the best in the Interior Design world. How did this feat come about?

Thank
you. It was a life long dream. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to
write a book. I have been collecting magazine
clippings and tucking away “book ideas” since I was 12 years old. Much like the
aha moment I had with the blog, the book idea was the same.

In many ways I wrote it for
myself. I am curious by nature. I wanted to know what life was like at home for
designers…what they serve for dinner, the kind of sheets they use on their
beds. Like Diana Vreeland once said, “Few things are more fascinating than how
people live during their private hours.”

When I gave my mom and dad a copy
of my book, my father commented, “It’s as if you have been preparing for this
your whole life."

I am most appreciative toRizzolifor
publishing Designers at Home, my editor Sandy Gilbert and Martha
Stewart for writing the forward.

There have been a lot of
changes in your life these last few years, and you are now launching Ronda
Carman Fine Fabrics (to the trade) with your partner Matt. It was fun to see
you both attired clothes made from your interiors fabrics. What's the genesis of this collection?

Having lived in Scotland for 8
years I was privileged to build close relationships with several of the
country's finest textile mills. I soon learned that many of the most
celebrated international luxury-fashion houses rely on Scottish mills for their
fabrics. Many of the relationships go back decades. And while the apparel
industry knows full well the exceptional quality of Scottish fabrics, the
interiors market has yet to utilize wholly Scotland’s finest offerings. We
were given a very unique opportunity to curate and represent some of the finest
mills under the brand RONDA CARMAN FINE FABRICS.

We are headquartered in Houston and have representation at EC Dicken in Dallas and Ainsworth-Noah in Atlanta. We will be looking at showrooms in
NYC and LA later this year. It’s very exciting and surreal. The support and
enthusiasm of the design community has been great due the exceptional quality
of our suiting, wools, sateens, sheers, cashmeres and leathers. With
almost 400 different fabrics, we have something for every designer and every
project.

Who are a few mentors or
people you admire greatly; those have inspired you to make your dreams come to
life?

Creative couples have always
inspired me, and since launching a business with Matt, I have been looking at
other couples as examples. A few include:

Kate and Andy Spade

Kate and Andy Spade have been my
style icons for years. Now I look to them as a creative couple that made it
work…very successfully. I can relate to them from a business (and personal)
point of view. From the beginning, nothing was planned at Kate Spade. Neither
of them grew up wanting to be a fashion designer. The idea formed with a
question from Andy: "Why don't you do handbags? You love handbags."
And that was that. "We never thought about starting a company. We just
said, ‘Let’s make some bags and see what happens,'" said Andy. Not bad for
a $59 million payday.

RONDA CARMAN FINE FABRICS started
much the same way. Matt said to me one day, “with your love of textiles,
relationships with the mills, and friendships within the design community, why
don’t you start a fabric business.”

Charles and Ray Eames

Charles and Ray Eames were a creative powerhouse. Best known for their
groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design, industrial
design and the photographic arts, each
brought unique genius to their union (he was an architect by training and
she was a painter and sculptor). The house they built together inspires me
on many levels. Charles and Ray moved into the House on Christmas Eve, 1949,
and lived there for the rest of their lives. I love that the Eames House
truly reflects the personality of both Eames’.

Tim and Nina Zagat

Founders of the iconic Zagat guide, Tim and Nina
started the guide as a fun project during the early years of their marriage
(both working as corporate lawyers). In a recent interview they were asked,
“How do you work together as husband and wife?” Tim answered, “We each work in
our strengths and accept that we won’t always agree on the means, but we always
agree on the end.”

Tell us about your latest collaborations
in the creation of the Scottish Throws of angora and lambswool, they look so
luxurious. What's special about the mill producing your cashmere?

We actually have four different blends that
make up our line of throws. Our high-end is 100% cashmere (not the stuff
you would normally find). Our’s has always been used in the fashion arena
for scarfs and wraps (some of the biggest names you could imagine). Fashion
houses have been using this wonderful fabric for years, we happen to be very
fortunate in bringing this same quality of luxury to home interiors.

Traditional, time-tested techniques are
always applied. Such two include, pummeling the cloth in a century-old wooden
milling machine to release short fibers for a soft handle, and brushing the
cashmere with hand-harvested Italian teasel plant heads sprinkled with Scottish
water to create the characteristic ripple effect.

Not only does the mill use the finest raw fibers,
they carry out regular tests to ensure the purity of the yarn. Once spun into
yarn, the fibers are then woven, washed, brushed, hand-cut and meticulously
finished, before a final inch-by-inch inspection by two craftsmen. The mill,
and their reputation, rely on fantastic hand-skills going over every inch of
the fabric.

Once I experienced the time-honored
tradition of the Scottish mills firsthand it deepened my appreciation of a
skilled craft. I wanted the opportunity to share these amazing fabrics with the
interiors world. The Scots have an extraordinary commodity to offer—textiles of
the highest tradition and quality.

Ronda this is truly fascinating and educating regarding the intricate process of weaving cashmere. I had no idea what is involved in the production of these lines!

Finally what words of wisdom do you have
for the beginning author, designer, artist, or person of any age wanting to
make a change in their life or career?

Don't aim for success if you want it; just do
what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. Two favorite quotes
come to mind.

“To
succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.”

Mark Twain

“Success
consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Winston
Churchill

Ronda, thank you so much for sharing your story with our readers. You are truly an inspiration! We wish you and Matt all the best as you move forward with making all of your dreams come true.

Visit Ronda's website to learn even more and see her fine fabrics and leather goods at www.rondacarman.com

Hi Karena, This is a fantastic interview. I have followed "All the Best" since 2008 and have been inspired by all that Rhonda has achieved. I'm currently missing my weekly "Soup on Sunday" fix. Blessing to both you and Rhonda.xoxox Mary

Although I have not yet seen the book, the Ainsworth-Noah rep showed me the fabric line today. I have to say that it is one of the best - if not THE best - new lines out. I loved the fresh new take on menswear-inspired fabrics. And the leathers were incredible, too, in both colors and scratch-resistant textures. A total Home Run.

Loved this post! It's inspiring to read stories of how others have found success doing what they love. Congratulations goes out to Rhonda for making her dreams come true. This gives me hope for my own very new blogging endeavor.

Karena...I so loved this interview!!!...what a true success story in doing what you love and "hitching your wagon to a star"....I will be ordering that book and I hope to find her line of gorgeous throws...I love that wonderful animal print throw....Love Scottish cashmere....and must say I enjoyed the quotes of inspiration...especially from Churchill....

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About Me

The intention of Karena's blog is to bring attention to the arts of every genre; bringing inspiration to those who read her features on Artists, Architects, Interior Designers, Jewelry, Fashion Designers and more. Email her artbykarenablog@gmail.com. She is living in the Kansas City area.